Trigger operated tool handle switch

ABSTRACT

A trigger operated electric switch for portable electric motordriven tools including a switch casing having an integral extended frame portion with a trigger actuated switch device disposed in the casing. A contact carrier is disposed in the casing and has an integral elongated arm extending outwardly from the carrier in the direction of the frame portion. The contact carrier is disposed in the casing and frame portion for reciprocation therein along the longitudinal axis of the carrier. The contact carrier contains a portion of the switch device whereby reciprocation of the contact carrier actuates the switch device. A bell-crank trigger is pivotally mounted at its apex on the free outer end of the frame portion above the outer end portion of the arm for rotation in the longitudinal vertical plane of the carrier. One end of the bell-crank trigger is pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm, and bias means is disposed between the frame portion and the outer end portion of the bell-crank trigger to bias the switch device to a first preselected position. Displacement of the outer end portion of the trigger against the action of the bias means displaces the contact carrier to a second preselected position.

United States Patent 1 Sahrbacker [451 July 10,1973

[ TRIGGER OPERATED TOOL HANDLE SWITCH [75] Inventor: Edward V. Sahrbacker, Brecksville,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Lucerne Products Inc., Northfield,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Apr. 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 130,384

Primary Examiner--Robert Schaefer Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Baldwin, Egan, Walling & Fetzer [57] ABSTRACT A trigger operated electric switch for portable electric motor-driven tools including a switch casing having an integral extended frame portion with a trigger actuated switch device disposed in the casing. A contact carrier is disposed in the casing and has an integral elongated arm extending outwardly from the carrier in the direction of the frame portion. The contact carrier is disposed in the casing and frame portion for reciprocation therein along the longitudinal axis of the carrier. The contact carrier contains a portion of the switch device whereby reciprocation of the contact carrier actuates the switch device. A bell-crank trigger is pivotally mounted at its apex on the free outer end of the frame portion above the outer end portion of the arm for rotation in the longitudinal vertical plane of the carrier. One end of the bell-crank trigger is pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm, and bias means is disposed between the frame portion and the outer end portion of the bell-crank trigger to bias the switch device to a first preselected position. Displacement of the outer end portion of the trigger against the action of the bias means displaces the contact carrier to a second preselected position.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures Patented July 10, 1973 FIG?) FIGI FIG.4

FIGS

FIG?

INVENTOR. EDWARD v. SAHRBACKER 9 ATTORNEYS TRIGGER OPERATED TOOL HANDLE SWITCH This invention relates to electric switches and, more particularly, to electric switches operable by pressure on a fingerpiece or trigger available outside of the handle or casing of the electric device controlled by the switch while the switch is contained inside the housing or handle.

Specifically, the invention relates to an electrical switch device for portable electric motor driven tools to control the application of electrical energy from an energy source to the motor. In many such applications, there is a need for a trigger switch wherein the trigger is disposed at substantially a right angle to the switch mechanism.

Additionally, there has long been a need for a simple, efficient, trigger-actuated switch for variably controlling the motor speed in portable electric tools and appliances such as, for example, an electric drill, food mixer and/or similar devices.

The switch device of the invention is intended to be connected in controlling relation with the appliance and the electrical energy source to which it is connected, as for example in the handle of the portable electric tool, so as to be conveniently actuated by the operatorthereof to variably control the application of such energy to the motor of the tool.

It is therefore a primaryobject of the present invention to provide an electricalswitch device for controllably varying the application of electrical energy from an energy source to a connected load and which switch device is intended to be manually operable to controllably vary the application of said energy to the appliance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel electrical switch device for controllably varying the application of electrical energy from an energy source to a connected load such as a hand-held electric drill, food mixer or like appliance, and which switch is also adjustable to provide a predetermined magnitude of energy to be applied to the connected load when the switch device is in its full on" position.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a trigger operated hand drill switch having its trigger disposed at substantially a right angle to the switch mechanism. t

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand tool trigger switch of the above type having a contact carrier with an extended arm which is pivotally connected to the trigger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable tool switch that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and highly effective in operation.

Briefly, the foregoing objects are accomplished by the provision of a trigger operated electric switch for portable electric motor driven tools including a switch casing having an integral extended frame portion with a trigger actuated switch device disposed in the casing. The switch device includes a contact carrier which is disposed in the casing. The contact carrier has an integral elongated arm extending outwardly from the carrier in the direction of the frame portion, and is disposed in the casing and frame portion for reciprocation therein along the longitudinal axis of the carrier. The contact carrier contains a portion of the switch device whereby reciprocation of the contactcarrier actuates the switch device. A bell-crank trigger is pivotally mounted at its apex on the free outer end of the frame portion above the outer end portion of the arm for rotation in the longitudinal vertical plane of the carrier. One end of the bell-crank trigger is pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm, andbias means is disposed between the frame portion and the outer end portion of the bell-crank trigger to bias the switch device to a first preselected position. The trigger is thus disposed at substantially a right angle to the switch device. Displacement of the outer end portion of the trigger against the action of the bias means displaces the contact carrier to a second preselected position.

Thus, there is provided a simple hand tool trigger switch of positive action, high reliability, and which may be produced with considerable economy.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. lis a side elevational view of a hand tool trigger switch constructed in accordance: with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the trigger in pressed position; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7+7 of FIG. 6.

Although the invention is shown and described herein with reference to its application in a portable electric drill it will be understood that it may be used in any application to variably control the application of electrical energy to an applied load.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description, and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifictions are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Referring now the the drawings, and with particular reference to FIG. d, the switch device of the present invention includes a switch casing or body 10 which encases a trigger actuated switch mechanism or device that is disclosed and claimed in the assignees application Ser. No. 702,272 entitled Electric Switch and filed on Feb. 1, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,973 issued Oct. 27, 1970. Such switch device will not be further described in detail as the same, per se, forms no part of the present invention.

The switch casing 10 has an extended frame portion 12 formed integral with the casing. A movable contact carrier 16 is disposed in the casing 10 and has an integral elongated arm 18 extending outwardly from the carrier in the direction of the frame portion 12. The contact carrier 16 (and its arm E8) is disposed in the casing 10 and its frame portion 12 for reciprocation therein substantially along the longitudinalaxis of the carrier. The contact carrier 16 contains a portion of the switch device wherebyreciprocation of the contact carrier actuates the switch device.

A bell-crank trigger generally designated as T, is pivotallymounted at its apex 32 by means of the pin33 on the free outer end 34 of the frame portion 12 abovethe outer end portion of the arm 18 for rotation in the longitudinal vertical plane of the carrier 16. One end 36 of the bell-crank trigger T is pivotally connected to the outer end 38 of the arm 18.

Suitable bias means in the form of the compressed coil spring 40 is disposed between the frame portion 12 and the outer end portion 42 of the bell-crank trigger T to bias the switch device to a first preselected position (shown in FIG. 4). Displacement of the outer end portion 42 of the trigger T against the action of the bias means 40 displaces the contact carrier 16 to a second preselected position (shown in FIG. 6).

The outer end portion 38 of the arm 18 is bifurcated (FIGS. 4 and 6) forming a U-shaped slot 52 with the open end of the U facing away from the one end 36 of the bell-crank trigger T. Such end 36 of the bell-crank trigger has a transverse pin or rod 54 thereon operatively disposed in the U-shaped slot 52 to form a pivotal connection between the trigger T and the arm 18.

Suitable pushbutton means 60 is disposed on the frame portion 12 and coactsvwith the trigger T to selectively retain the trigger in a second preselected position. The pushbutton 60, per se, forms no part of the present invention and is described in detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,973.

With the above described construction there is provided adependable, maintenance-free, hand tool trigger switch of simplified construction. The one-piece carrier l6-arm 18 structure effects unusual economy of manufacture and cost reduction.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch for portable electric motordriventools comprising, a switch casing having an integral extended frame portion, an upstanding, integral projection on the upper, free outer end portion of the extended frame portion, a'trigger actuated switch device disposed in the casing, a reciprocable contact carrier reciprocably disposed in the casing for reciprocation along the longitudinal axis of the carrier and having an integral elongated arm extending outwardly from the carrier in the direction of the extended frame portion and underlying the extended frame portion, a portion of the switch device supported in said contact carrier whereby reciprocation of the contact carrier actuates the switch device, said portion of the switch device including a substantially U-shaped contact r'novably received in a pocket in the contact carrier, bias means in the contact carrier urging the contact'outwardly, a bell-crank trigger pivotally mounted at its apex on the upper end of the projection on the free outer end of the extended frame portion above the outer end portion of the arm for rotation in the longitudinal vertical plane of the carrier, the outer end portion of the arm being bifurcated forming a U-shaped slot with the open end of the U facing away from the one end of the bell-crank trigger, and said one end of the bell-crank trigger has a transverse rod thereon operatively disposed in the U-shaped slot to form a pivotal connection between the trigger and the arm, an annular, raised rib on the underside of the outer end portion of the trigger and a central projection coaxial with the rib, said rib and projection defining therebetween an annular spring seat, compressed coil spring bias means disposed between the extended frame portion and the spring seat on the outer end portion of the bell-crank trigger to bias the trigger and the switch device to a first preselected position, whereby displacement of the outer end portion of the trigger against the action 'of the bias means displaces the contact carrier to a second preselected position, pushbutton means disposed on said extended frame portion and coactingwith the trigger to selectively retain the trigger in said second prese lected position, and upstanding means on the extended frame portion in the path of travel of the outer end portion of the trigger. J 

1. An electric switch for portable electric motor-driven tools comprising, a switch casing having an integral extended frame portion, an upstanding, integral projection on the upper, free outer end portion of the extended frame portion, a trigger actuated switch device disposed in the casing, a reciprocable contact carrier reciprocably disposed in the casing for reciprocation along the longitudinal axis of the carrier and having an integral elongated arm extending outwardly from the carrier in the direction of the extended frame portion and underlying the extended frame portion, a portion of the switch device supported in said contact carrier whereby reciprocation of the contact carrier actuates the switch device, said portion of the switch device including a substantially U-shaped contact movably received in a pocket in the contact carrier, bias means in the contact carrier urging the contact outwardly, a bell-crank trigger pivotally mounted at its apex on the upper end of the projection on the free outer end of the extended frame portion above the outer end portion of the arm for rotation in the longitudinal vertical plane of the carrier, the outer end portion of the arm being bifurcated forming a U-shaped slot with the open end of the U facing away from the one end of the bell-crank trigger, and said one end of the bell-crank trigger has a transverse rod thereon operatively disposed in the U-shaped slot to form a pivotal connection between the trigger and the arm, an annular, raised rib on the underside of the outer end portion of the trigger and a central projection coaxial with the rib, said rib and projection defining therebetween an annular spring seat, compressed coil spring bias means disposed between the extended frame portion and the spring seat on the outer end portion of the bell-crank trigger to bias the trigger and the switch device to a first preselected position, whereby displacement of the outer end portion of the trigger against the action of the bias means displaces the contact carrier to a second preselected position, pushbutton means disposed on said extended frame portion and coacting with the trigger to selectively retain the trigger in said second preselected position, and upstanding means on the extended frame portion in the path of travel of the outer end portion of the trigger. 